Flames News

CALGARY, AB --The Calgary Flames and Rene Bourque Hockey Fund announced today a donation of 50 brand new sets of hockey equipment, courtesy of the NHLPA’s Goals & Dreams fund. This donation will assist youth in Lac La Biche become involved in hockey. Flames forward Rene Bourque will distribute the equipment at an event in Lac La Biche, AB on Saturday, September 10, 2011.

Date: Saturday, September 10, 2011

Time: 2 p.m. (M.S.T.)

Location:Bold Center, Lac La Biche

8702- 91st Street

“It’s an important to take the time to give back to these communities,” says Bourque who is from Lac La Biche. “Hockey can be a hard sport to get into and I want to my part in ensuring kids from this area get the chance to."

Chairman of the Goals & Dreams fund, Devin Smith, commented on the success of the program.

“Over the last 11 years, NHL players have donated more than $19 million to fund and assist grassroots hockey programs around the world. We’ve sent equipment everywhere from Australia to South Africa, Europe, Malaysia and North America. The biggest obstacle in participating in hockey is the cost of equipment. Our goal is to bridge that gap for less fortunate children”.

Bourque initiated the program which directs hockey equipment to families selected through the Rene Bourque Hockey Fund and Hockey Alberta. This is the second time the Rene Bourque Hockey Fund and NHLPA have provided equipment to young athletes in Northern Alberta.

In 1999, the National Hockey League Players’ Association (NHLPA) launched the Goals & Dreams fund as a way for the players to give something back to the game they love. The players’ program has donated full sets of hockey equipment that has benefited more than 60,000 economically challenged children in 23 countries and assisted with upgrades and the building of hundreds of arenas world-wide. To date, Goals & Dreams has donated more than $19-million to grassroots hockey programs around the world making it the largest program of its kind. For more information on the NHLPA, please visit www.nhlpa.com.